A drug dealer caught with nearly £2,000 worth of crack-cocaine in Loughborough was busy plying his trade in Swansea within a month, a court heard.

Christian Chauraya, 18, ran up a drugs debt and ended up having to sell class A drugs to pay it off.

Priya Bakshi, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court the defendant was searched in Derby Road, Loughborough, when 97 wraps of crack-cocaine were found in his pocket, on August 17.

She said: "The defendant became aggressive towards the officer and struck him in the face with his handcuffs and pulled away trying to escape.

"He was joined by another police officer who Tasered him.

"The injured officer suffered reddening to his face and a grazed elbow.

"The defendant claimed he found the drugs and was not a dealer.

"He was in possession of 97 deals of crack-cocaine, totalling 19.4 grams, with a street value of £1,940."

Arrested while on bail

While on bail, the defendant was arrested in Finsbury Terrace, Brynmill, Swansea, following a police chase when he dropped a packet containing 17 wraps of heroin weighing 5.6 grams and 13 deals of crack-cocaine, weighing three grams, on September 15.

He was arrested in a nearby garden and found to have £401 cash on him, which was confiscated by the court.

Chauraya, formerly of London Road, in Leicester, admitted three counts of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply and assaulting an officer with intent to resist arrest.

He was sentenced to two years detention in a young offenders institution.

Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: "You have a bad record but it's almost all to do with acquisitive offending, no doubt to fund your own drug habit.

"In August you were found in possession of 97 wraps of crack-cocaine in Loughborough and were violent when an attempt was made to arrest you.

"On bail, you did the same regarding drugs in Swansea, this time in possession of small quantities of heroin and crack-cocaine.

"You're still very young and are not beyond hope and redemption.

"You've had a difficult life and you haven't made it any easier for yourself by the sort of offences you've committed.

"You will have to try and distance yourself from the drugs world on your release, because if you don't you'll end up serving longer sentences."

The defendant's 'difficult life'

James Armstrong-Holmes, mitigating, said the defendant had no previous convictions for drugs offences and began offending because of a crack-cocaine habit.

He said: "He ended up selling drugs because he built up a drugs debt.

"The offences were committed when he was 17; he's only recently turned 18.

"His time on remand in custody has been a very sobering experience although he's been taking part in educational courses."

Judge Dean asked: "What took him to Swansea after the Loughborough offences?"

Mr Armstrong-Holmes said: "He was sent to Swansea to deal in drugs."

Of Chauraya's difficult start in life, he said, his father died in Zimbabwe when he was two, and he does not know whereabouts in South Africa his mother is now living.